The New School hosted the National Book Awards Finalist Readings from 1998 until 2019. This collection of audiovisual recordings documents nominated finalists reading their work at the university the night before the awards ceremony.

This collection is comprised of audiovisual recordings primarily commissioned by Parsons School of Design. Most of the recordings are of the Parsons Fashion Design Department's annual scholarship benefit and runway show. Also included in the collection are recordings of junior year presentations, promotional films about Parsons, and a Japanese-language film created by the United States Information Agency featuring a Parsons fashion student.